Tesla has surpassed BMW and Mercedes-Benz to become the top-selling imported car brand in South Korea for the second consecutive month.
According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA) on September 3, Tesla sold 7,974 vehicles in the domestic market in August, securing the number one spot in imported car sales.
During the same period, BMW ranked second with 6,458 units sold, followed by Mercedes-Benz with 4,332 units, and Toyota (including Lexus) with 2,132 units.
By model, Tesla's Model Y (rear-wheel drive) recorded the highest sales with 4,805 units, followed by the Model Y Long Range with 1,878 units, and the Model 3 with 1,290 units. Tesla's major models swept the top three spots among imported car sales models in South Korea. Next in line were the BMW 520 with 1,153 units and the Mercedes-Benz E300 4MATIC with 726 units sold.
With the increase in Tesla sales, the proportion of eco-friendly cars in imported car sales continues to rise. In August, hybrids (including mild hybrids, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids) accounted for 49.2% of imported car sales, while pure electric vehicles made up 39.8%. In contrast, gasoline and diesel vehicles accounted for only 10% and 1%, respectively.
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